Test Numero Uno On The Road To South Africa 2010

Tomorrow’s Olympic Soccer preliminary round clash between the US and Nigeria isn’t really about the Beijing Olympics 2008. It’s about the 2010 World Cup and seeing which of the constellation of young stars and potential stars for the US have the type of fortitude that is required to win matches when facing the world’s top teams. As good as this current croup of American youngsters have been, last time they faced a win or go home situation during the 2007 U20 World Cup, they lost 2-1 to Austria and were sent packing from a tourney they had a legitimate shot at winning.

So too, after two games played, does this group look to have a reasonable shot at claiming Olympic Gold. But first, they have to get a result against a highly-skilled and very dangerous Nigeria side. That they have to do without Freddy Adu, who was the best player on the pitch in the US’s heart-rending 2-2 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday, doesn’t bode well. Throw in the fact that US mainstay Michael Bradley is out as well, and Peter Nowak’s side will be going into their biggest match yet without their most skilled and creative player and his steady midfield mate. Not exactly the way you want to go into this match, thats for sure.

Looking to 2010 though, the absence of Adu and Bradley is good news though.

If Ives is correct, and he usually is, then tomorrow’s game gives two guys that got lost in Europe last season — Danny Szetela and Benny Feilhaber — the chance to cowboy up and contribute to a US win in a huge international match.

Depth has always been lacking for the US at the highest levels of international soccer. Even now, we are completely dependent on Landon Donovan to provide any semblance of an attack and rely on the same three guys — Gooch, Steve Cherundulo, and Carlos Bocanegra — to anchor a backline that has a revolving door at left back because Bob Bradley has yet to find someone to do the job well on a consistent basis.

Now Szetela and Feilhaber have their chance to show that someone other than Landon and Freddy is capable of sparking the attack. And they also have a chance to make their European clubs sit up and take notice.

Kickoff is 5AM EST. I’ll be awake.